How To: Halloween Nail Art for All Skill Levels

While we opt for classic manis most days of the year, there’s no time like the holidays to kick our tips up a notch. And when it comes to holidays, you can’t beat Halloween. These spook-inspired designs will get you in the Halloween spirit, whether you’re a nail art novice or a manicure master.

Easy: Bloody Fingerprints

These crime scene nails are a cinch to pull off, especially for those of us who have trouble painting with our non-dominant hands. Begin by painting your nails with white polish, and let them dry completely before moving on. Next, apply a drop of blood-red polish to the pad of one of your fingers on the opposite hand. Stamp your finger onto a piece of paper to remove excess polish, and then press your finger down onto your nails, leaving red fingerprints behind. This process is a bit messy, so make sure to have nail polish remover on hand to clean up the bottoms of your fingers as you go.

Medium: Black Widows

Grab a roll of Scotch tape to achieve this vampy spider-inspired design. Paint each nail with red polish (we added a coat of red glitter for extra sparkle). Apply a top coat and let nails dry for several hours before moving on. Apply a piece of Scotch tape to the top and bottom of each nail, letting the points of the tape meet in the center. Working nail by nail, paint over the tape with black polish, and remove the tape while the polish is still wet. Add another layer of top coat for serious shine.

Difficult: Mummy Wraps

Put down the Halloween candy before attempting this one – you want your hands to be as steady as possible! Begin by painting each nail with black polish. Once the black polish is dry, use a thin nail art pen or brush to cover each nail with white lines in varied directions to achieve a “wrapped” look. Try to keep the lines as uniform as possible, but don’t worry if you’re a little shaky. Once the white polish has dried completely, add a top coat to even out the surface and add some shine and protection. With this intricate look, you’ll be sure to wow your friends when the 31st rolls around.